Tips for a Healthy Transition to College

The first year of college is a major transition for both students and parents. Not
only are new college students making more independent personal and academic decisions,
but these students have most likely never managed their own health and wellness.

Below are some tips to make the transition a little smoother:

General Tips

Bring all prescription medications with you to college, including inhalers, nebulizers
and epinephrine auto injectors (i.e. EpiPens).

Keep the name and number of your primary care provider (and any specialists you may
see) in your wallet.

Know what medications you take (including the name, dose and frequency). If you are
allergic to something, make sure you know what it is! If you forget the information
make sure it is written down for you.

Keep your insurance card with you at all times in case of an emergency.

Students with Asthma

Young adults can have varying degrees of asthma. Some may have outgrown childhood
asthma, and some may need several daily medications to keep it under control. We recommend
that even if you have not used your rescue inhaler in a year or two, you still bring
one with you just in case. The SXU campus and/or the dorms are a new environment that
may trigger your asthma.

Make sure that your inhalers are not expired and are full. Our nurse practitioners
are able to assess your asthma and write prescriptions for asthma medications if needed.
Please call to make an appointment.

If you have been using a nebulizer at home, please make sure to bring it with you
to campus. We have a nebulizer machine and albuterol at the Health Center, but you
may need your machine when we are not open.

Students with Severe Allergies

If you have serious allergic reactions necessitating an epinephrine auto injector
(i.e. EpiPen, Twinject, Auvi-Q), please make sure that you carry one with you at all
times. We have EpiPens at the Health Center; however, you should not depend on these
as we are not open 24 hours per day. Epinephrine is most effective when administered
as soon as the allergic reaction begins.

We recommend that if you have a severe allergy that you inform your Resident Advisor
and/or to the Dean of Students office. If you have very severe allergies, the Dean
of Students and the Health Center will work with you to develop a safe plan of care.

In the event of food allergies, you are encouraged to contact the Dean of Students
to schedule a meeting with the Chef and tour of the SXU diner. This way, you will
be well informed of the foods available to you on campus.

Students with Mental Health Issues

The SXU Health Center works very closely with the SXU Counseling Center in order to ensure each student gets the support he or she needs. It should be noted
that the SXU Health Center will not share any information with the SXU Counseling
Center unless we have written permission from the student to do so and vice versa.
We take confidentiality very seriously.

Our nurse practitioners are able to diagnose and treat certain mental health conditions,
such as depression or anxiety. The nurse practitioner may decide to refer a student
to a psychiatrist depending on the issue and the type of treatment needed.

Confidentiality

The SXU Health Center abides by all HIPAA laws. Please see our Privacy Practices for more information. You may also request a written copy at any time.

Any student 18 years or older must give their written permission for the SXU Health
Center staff to disclose confidential information to anyone, including the student's
parents.